Courtyard House: My Hidden Wheat Seeds Caused a National Sensation

"Yes! I understand, Grandma!"

Banggeng nodded vigorously as if suddenly realizing something, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes. "That little bastard dared to call the police to arrest me! Humph! Next time I'll empty his house! I'll also catch some centipedes and scorpions and stuff them into his bed, so he'll know what happens when he offends me!"

"Yes! My dear grandson, that's how it should be!"

Madam Jia nodded repeatedly, her face full of approval.

Yi Zhonghai watched the grandfather and grandson's back-and-forth banter from the side, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

This isn't teaching children; it's clearly leading them astray.

Just as he was about to speak, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the courtyard.

Yi Zhonghai felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that Li Jianye had led the police there.

The group exchanged glances and stepped across the threshold together.

Li Jianye walked in front, followed by two uniformed police officers, coming from the front yard through the courtyard.

The neighbors, who had already gathered around most of the courtyard, peeked out and whispered among themselves, forming a semi-circle like they were watching a play.

"Comrade, it's her."

Li Jianye raised his hand and pointed directly at Jia Zhangshi.

Two police officers quickly stepped forward, their tone stern:

"Comrade Jia Zhangshi, we have a burglary case that requires your cooperation in the investigation."

"Burden?"

"Good heavens, did Jia Zhangshi steal from Li Jianye's house?"

"I've always suspected she's dishonest—"

"The sausage we had last year was gone; she must have taken it too!"

"Half a bar of soap! No wonder it suddenly disappeared!"

A buzz of discussion arose, spreading like a tide across the courtyard.

Madam Jia raised her chin and snorted through her nose:

"Steal? Let that brat tell me himself, what exactly is missing from his house?"

These words made Li Jianye frown.

The two police officers also frowned.

One of the policewomen said sternly, "Jia Zhangshi, watch your attitude!"

Madam Jia shrugged, but her voice remained firm:

"My dog ​​just went to his room to play for a while, and didn't take a single needle! Don't believe me—go check it yourselves!"

"We really should take a look."

Li Jianye calmly replied.

The police officers exchanged a glance and nodded.

The group turned towards the backyard.

Just as I entered through the moon gate, the door to the small house next door creaked open.

A crack appeared, and Lou Xiao'e peeked out with half her face.

Upon seeing the police officers, she paused for a moment, then suddenly realized—could it be that the incident involving the stick had happened?

She quietly closed the door and followed them out; if necessary, she would have to be a witness.

Li Jianye didn't pay attention to her. He led the police to his house, opened the door and invited them in, while he stood in the doorway to block the neighbors who wanted to squeeze in to see what was going on.

The scene inside made those outside gasp in shock.

Muddy footprints littered the floor, bedding was dragged off the bed and stained, and the cabinet door was half-open with miscellaneous items scattered around, as if the place had been ransacked.

"This...this was all caused by Bang Geng?"

"The door was smashed yesterday, and the house is like this today. No wonder they had to call the police!"

"If we don't fix it soon, the roof might be ripped off tomorrow!"

Amidst the cacophony of voices, Madam Jia stood with her hands on her hips, appearing completely unconcerned.

"I said it was just a joke! Anyone who slanders my grandson again, I'll tear their mouth off!"

The courtyard fell silent instantly.

Everyone knows that Jia Zhangshi is a notorious shrew in the courtyard. Apart from the deaf old lady in the back room, no one can control her.

But the old lady didn't show up today, so naturally no one could control the situation.

A short while later, two police officers came out and nodded to Li Jianye:

"Comrade Li Jianye, we have completed the site survey."

His gaze then fell on Banggeng, who was standing to the side.

"You're a bastard."

"Come with us."

"What are you doing?"

When the police were about to take her away, Jia Zhangshi immediately panicked.

"My grandson just went in for a quick look around!"

"I didn't touch anything."

"Is this a crime?"

Whether or not you touched it is not up to you to decide.

The police had no intention of getting entangled with her.

"We'll discuss everything after we've finished questioning them!"

"Oh!"

Jia Zhangshi snorted through her nostrils.

Turning to his grandson, he said, "My dear grandson, you go with them!"

"Anyway, we're completely innocent."

"I'm not afraid."

"It won't be long before they have to politely send you back!"

"Okay, Grandma."

Banggeng is indeed not afraid.

This time he really didn't take anything.

So he obediently followed the police and left.

Everyone in the courtyard was confused.

Could it be... that Bangeng really didn't steal anything?

Otherwise, where would they get such confidence?

***

Watching their grandson walk away with the police, Jia Zhangshi and her gang remained completely calm.

She even walked up to Li Jianye with her head held high, her face full of sarcasm.

"You just came from the countryside, right?"

"Has farming in the village made your brain wooden?"

"My grandson is just visiting your house."

"Is this really something worth reporting to the authorities?"

"They don't even understand the basic principles of neighborly help and harmonious coexistence!"

"Pooh!"

"Sooner or later, you'll be packing your bags and heading back to the countryside!"

"Someone like you."

"Does he even deserve to eat the city's rations?"

Just you wait and see!

"Wait for my grandson to come back."

"I'll let him come to your house to 'play' every day!"

"snort!"

Having said that, Madam Jia raised her chin and strode back into the house.

"Alright, alright!"

"Everyone, you can leave now."

"It's nothing serious."

"Banggeng was just being playful and wandered into Li Jianye's house."

"I didn't take anything from his house at all."

Before the crowd dispersed, Yi Zhonghai quickly spoke up to set the tone.

He couldn't let his apprentice's son be branded a thief.

"Don't blame Comrade Li Jianye, everyone."

"They just came from the countryside."

"You're so immature."

"It's okay."

"As you spend more time together, things will naturally get along better."

These words clearly sound like an attempt to exonerate Li Jianye.

In reality, every word is like a nail driven into someone's heart.

In just a few words, an impression of Li Jianye as someone who lacks common sense and is unreasonable was formed on him.

"As expected of Yi Zhonghai."

After listening, Li Jianye only gave a cold smile.

He doesn't argue, nor is there any need for him to.

When the police return, they'll take away more than one person.

At that time, the bad reputation will be turned around.

Some people's carefully maintained facade may not be able to hold up any longer.

"Since everyone is here, I'll say a few words as well."

Despite the whispers and pointing around him, Li Jianye remained calm.

I believe in one principle: I will not attack unless attacked.

"I agree with mutual help and friendship."

"But if anyone dares to ride roughshod over me..."

"Then don't blame me for tearing things apart and not caring about neighborly relations."

After saying that, he turned and went back into the house.

The room was a mess, but he didn't bother to clean it up.

Anyway, someone will come and clean it up in a while.

With a thought, Li Jianye entered the farm space that belonged only to him.

In the workshop, he ordered a decent dinner to be prepared.

In his previous life, he spent most of his time in school, and after graduating with a doctorate, he went to work in a research institute. He never seriously cooked.

These days, we rely entirely on this processing workshop for our three meals a day.

Strangely enough, the food from this neighborhood tasted exceptionally good.

The most valuable thing is that there is no need to wait.

Once the ingredients are added, the dish is ready.

This is even faster than ordering takeout.

While Li Jianye was leisurely eating his meal, Qin Huairu finally led Qin Jingru into the courtyard house.

As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, Yan Bugui, who was tending to the flowers and plants, looked up and said, "Oh, Qin Huairu, who is this?"

"Third Uncle,"

Qin Huairu greeted her, "This is my younger sister, Qin Jingru. She's coming to stay at our house for a couple of days."

"I see."

Yan Bugui nodded. "Go back inside quickly, something's happened at your house."

Qin Huairu was taken aback, and before she could ask any more questions, she hurried home.

Upon opening the door, they saw Yi Zhonghai, Jia Dongxu, and Jia Zhangshi sitting around the table, chatting and laughing, showing no signs of trouble.

She stood frozen at the doorway.

"Huai Ru is back?"

Upon seeing her, Jia Zhangshi's face lit up with a smile, "You've come back just in time! We've been waiting for the grain you brought!"

She got up to take it, but stopped halfway through her hand – Qin Huairu's hands were empty.

Madam Jia's face darkened, and just as she was about to speak, the door was pushed open again.

A little girl with pigtails followed her in, saying with a hint of reproach, "Sis, why are you in such a hurry?"

The three people in the room were all stunned at the same time.

Jia Zhangshi's voice suddenly turned shrill: "Qin Huairu, who is this?"

"Mom, this is my cousin."

Qin Huairu quickly explained, "There's a bit of a situation back home, so we're letting her stay at our place for a couple of days."

Jia Zhangshi swayed, and her vision went black.

"Fine, sending us back to get grain has resulted in a complete crop failure, and now we've brought back another mouth to feed!" She was so angry her chest tightened, but Qin Huairu didn't notice, only pressing for answers: "Mom, Third Uncle said something happened at home? What happened?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

Jia Dongxu took a leisurely sip of tea. "It's just that Bang Geng was taken away by the police station."

Qin Huairu felt dizzy and disoriented.

She had just heard in the morning that her whole family had gone to the Northwest, and in the afternoon her son was arrested. One thing after another, how could anyone live like this? Her vision went black, and her body went limp and she collapsed.

After an unknown amount of time, Qin Huairu slowly woke up, and the first thing she saw was Qin Jingru, whose face was full of anxiety.

She turned her head to the side, and saw that Jia Zhangshi, Jia Dongxu, and Yi Zhonghai were still sitting at the table chatting, as if her fainting spell had never happened.

Qin Huairu felt both cold and angry, and struggled to sit up.

"Sis, you're finally awake!"

Qin Jingru said happily.

Qin Huairu didn't answer her, but looked directly at the three people at the table: "Mom! Dongxu! Banggeng has been taken away by the police, aren't you worried?"

"What's the rush?"

Jia Dongxu blew on the tea froth unhurriedly, "The police will naturally bring the stick back later."

Why?

Qin Huairu was bewildered.

"Huai Ru, here's what happened."

Yi Zhonghai put down his teacup and, with a smile, recounted the whole story.

Upon hearing that it was Li Jianye who called the police, Qin Huairu's hands slowly clenched.

A thousand yuan failed to quell the dispute, and after Yi Zhonghai left, Qin Huairu felt a pang of sorrow.

He's holding a grudge against me for my choice back then.

She thought to herself.

I need to find an opportunity to visit Jianye.

But Dongxu must not find out about this. He is extremely suspicious by nature, and if he finds out, he will definitely make a huge fuss.

Just as her thoughts were in turmoil, her mother-in-law's voice rang out again: "Huai Ru, why did you bring your sister here? Where is there any extra food in the house? There's only one kang (heated brick bed), how will they fit in tonight? Take her back immediately!"

"Mom, something really happened at home, I had no choice."

Qin Huairu was unwilling to bring Qin Jingru along, but since they were already there, she couldn't very well turn them away.

If something were to happen to my sister outside, my reputation would be ruined.

"How about this, I'll go talk to Zhu Zi and ask him to let Jing Ru stay with his sister Yu Shui for a few nights."

"Qin Huairu".

Upon hearing that she was going to find He Yuzhu, Jia Dongxu's face immediately darkened. "Don't talk to that idiot any longer. I'll be watching you, understand?"

"understood."

Qin Huairu responded softly, her heart filled with helplessness.

Dongxu's paranoia is really something... Could it be that I would actually be interested in He Yuzhu? He's covered in cooking fumes, looks old, and doesn't earn much.

Given the current situation, with Dongxu keeping such a close eye on things, how can I speak with Jianye privately?

Just as he was feeling annoyed, there was a knock on the door.

"I'm back!"

Jia Zhangshi exclaimed happily, got up and hurried to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, the two police officers who had just come in were indeed standing outside.

"What did I tell you? They still had to obediently return the clams!"

Upon seeing this, Jia Zhangshi revealed a smug expression.

But before her smile could fade, a pair of dark yellow handcuffs clicked shut.

With a snap, he grabbed her wrist.

The handcuffs of that era were cast in bronze, exuding an old and heavy feel.

"Jia Zhangshi, you've committed a crime. Come with us."

"What?"

Madam Jia was stunned. "What did I do wrong?"

"Bang Geng has confessed everything."